Wenge
Also known as African Rosewood, Millettia laurentii.
Millettia laurentii (Fabaceae) · Central Africa
Wenge is about as dark as wood gets without dye — a deep, near-black brown streaked with fine pale lines, the wood designers reach for when they want drama and contrast. It anchors modern furniture, high-end flooring, and accent work where a true dark tone is the whole point.
It is dense, very hard, and extremely durable, which makes it demanding to machine and rough on edges — sharp carbide, patience, and good dust collection are the order of the day. Finished, it is unmistakable. We bring Wenge in for furniture makers, flooring installers, and designers who need genuine dark wood rather than a stain — ask about current stock and sizes.
Appearance
Color. Very dark brown, nearly black, with fine, closely spaced lighter lines.
Grain. Straight.
Texture. Coarse, open texture.
Working & finishing
Dense and hard on tooling; the coarse grain can splinter and the fine dust is worth capturing. Fills and finishes to a dramatic near-black surface; glue-up needs clean, well-prepared faces.
Drying. Dries slowly but is very stable once dry.
Durability
Very durable and highly resistant to decay and insects.
Common uses
Looking for Wenge?
We stock and mill a wide range of species and grades. Tell us your sizes and we'll confirm availability and pricing — usually within one business day.